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Frequently mentioned in reviews: student (10) prison (9) students (7) visit (7) time (6) interesting (6)
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  • 4/5 Krishna R. 4 years ago on Google
    From the time of its foundation in 1386, Heidelberg University had an autonomous jurisdiction and the legal right to detain students. They set up the student prison (Karzer) to imprison students here for “Kavaliersdelikte” (minor transgressions). The most common offences were loud singing, drunken behaviour, participating in illegal fencing duels and driving pigs through town. They could also end up if they insulted the local constable (Amtmann). Soon this became a rite of passage and a matter of honour for students. They were sentenced from 2 days to 4 weeks in prison. They spent time decorating the walls, playing cards with friends and carving names on tables. The subjects on the walls were silhouette profiles, coat of arms of the student association, date of confinement and humourous comments. For the black paint, they earlier used candle-smuts or soot from the fireplace and later they bought paints in with them. They also got their photographs in student association uniform and inserted into the doors. The names of the rooms given were Solitude, Palais Royale and Sanssouci with the King’s Throne being the fancy name for the loo. An interesting place to visit for 20-30 minutes offering an insight into student life & their graffiti, more than a century ago. This is 2 flights on top of a building with only stairs to reach the top. It is a short walk from the main church and costs ~€3. Timings are around 10 A.M. to 4/6 PM.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Linda F. 9 months ago on Google
    This isn't worth paying to go into because it's currently under restoration so there is scaffolding in all the rooms and tarps covering everything. They should tell people this before they pay for tickets. Until the restoration is finished, I don't recommend paying to see it.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Adam H. 6 months ago on Google
    This museum wins the Grand Prix in the category of the most unfriendly and fraudulent institution I have - unfortunately - had the opportunity to visit in Germany. From the failure to inform that all the rooms of the student prison are undergoing restoration works and therefore there is basically no point in visiting here, to the cancellation of a guided visit in English in the auditorium because the German guide was kind enough to significantly extend the time she was showing her group around, to the person of the guard (?), with evidently unbalanced behaviour - from the first second after entering supervising every movement, some absurd questioning, to chasing and blocking the way with his body when I wanted to leave to see the building from outside, having left my rucksack in the locker. The actual exhibition on the history of the university very poor, on the level of a school display case; such a contrast to the university's achievements (apparently not in the PR field). A disgrace in every respect.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tony L. 6 years ago on Google
    Interesting place that is nice for shutterbugs. Not sure I would recommend it to everyone. I can see why others have thought the staff were rude, I was a bit taken aback by the forcefulness of the staff when I came into the gift shop at 3:57 pm telling me that the shop was closed, even though it wasn't 4pm yet.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Lesley C. 6 years ago on Google
    Admission is very cheap and it a pretty interesting place to visit!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lia-Sophie R. 2 years ago on Google
    This eerie yet stunning place is definitely worth stopping by on your way through Heidelberg. With squeaking wooden planks and walls and ceilings covered in scribbles from another time, it's quite the stunner if you just stand in the middle of the small room and take it all in. Taking a look inside the different rooms offers an insight into life as a student in the karzer.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Klein s. 8 months ago on Google
    Unfortunately not worth for 6 euro. There are many under maintenance room as of now.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Laetitia G. 2 years ago on Google
    Very interesting and unusual place. Takes you only 30min if you decide to stay a long time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Caitlin J. 1 year ago on Google
    If you are in Heidelberg this is a must visit! See graffiti from over 100 years ago all over the walls and floors of this former student prison and learn about all the obscure reasons as to why students were put there in the first place!

  • 5/5 Nicklas B. 7 months ago on Google
    Truly unique experience with 100+ years old graffiti

  • 5/5 mango. e. 10 months ago on Google
    This is a must see in Heidelberg, when you want to experience the university culture of the ancient Heidelberg. It was like a prison for students.

  • 1/5 Derya K. 11 months ago on Google
    I found it really odd that they forcefully sell university museum ticket next to the student prison ticket, and have only german info in the museum. The entire prison was under renovation, therefore the experience was ridiculous.

  • 5/5 Vasileios L. 1 year ago on Google
    You could feel the history of the place through the paintings,poems and songs that were written on the walls all around you! I strongly recommend it!

  • 3/5 Mark L. 1 year ago on Google
    Little to see if u can’t really read German. I wouldn’t pay to visit but went there because I had the tourist pass. However it’s nice that the city preserves such unique heritage

  • 5/5 Rianthie H. 1 year ago on Google
    Interesting place to visit. Here you can see many words written on the wall from the time when this prison still operated, written by the student prisoners.

  • 5/5 Jay L. 1 year ago on Google
    The graffiti is quite interesting and the place has deep history with the area and university. The rest of the museum is more general about the university.

  • 4/5 Siddharth G. 2 years ago on Google
    It's not a typical tourist place but a very interesting piece of history unlike most I have been to

  • 4/5 Linh P. 3 years ago on Google
    Such a bizzare museum. You need to book in advance before going. Check out the souvenirs, they sell some pretty good stuff for students there.

  • 4/5 Linzi 5 years ago on Google
    The place was fairly small and close to all the main attractions. There were graffiti all overall the wall that seemed to be related to politics. There were not a lot information in the place though.

  • 5/5 Holly K. 2 years ago on Google
    Student jail or student prison is an extremely distributing concept to myself as a millennial coming from the American higher education system. There is no such thing as unruly students. There is such thing known as paid customers. I guess you just don't lock up paid customers who provided more than 40000 USD dollars to the a higher education institution every year. Yes, this prestigious institution still charged less than 300 dollars a year.

  • 3/5 Server K. 2 years ago on Google
    An interesting place with some nice stories from the guide, but can’t say that it was something special to go there.


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  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible entrance

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